Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., center, joined by Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., left, and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., right, takes their seats at the start of the opening meeting of the Joint Select Committee... more

Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., center, joined by Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., left, and Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., right, takes their seats at the start of the opening meeting of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, often called the "supercommittee", on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) less